Pleasure-railway.



J. A; MILLER. PLEASURE RAILWAY. APPLICATION rum) APR. 24, 1909.

937,456. I Patented Oct. 19, 19w.

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J. A. MILLER. PLEASURE RAILWAY. APPLIUATIOH FILED APR.24,1909.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFTQ.

JOHN A. MILLER, or HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

PLEASURE-RAILWAY. A A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. is. race.

Application filed April 24, 1909. Serial No. 492,033.

having a steep ascending grade from near,

the starting point or station until a considerable elevation is reached, from which ele vation the track proceeds with var1ous curves, or loops, and with a succession of descending and ascending grades or dips,

, the highest point of elevation of each succeeding descending grade being lower than the highest point of the next preceding one, and this continues until the track reaches its lowest level and returns to the starting point or loading station. Apparatus of this character is ordinarily equi ped with a plurality of passenger cars a apted to the track, and in operation each car, with its passengers is carried forward by mechanical means from the starting point at the loading sta-' tion, up to the top of the incline or grade. From this point the car runs forward by gravity, down and up the successive grades and around the various curves and loops I until it returns to the starting point, where the passengers are unloaded.

When more than one car or train is used,

they follow each other in succession, on the same circuitous track, and pass each other when moving in opposite directions. The pleasure and amusement furnished the patrons are due mainly to the fact that they are carried rapidly along the railway ,at varying speeds, by undulating motions, and in tortuous ways, until the destination is reached, and the sport is more or less increased when two or more cars or trains are used, by reason of their passing each other when running in opposite directions on the same track. Devices of the type thus described are equipped with brakes and safety appliances and have been fully demonstrated to be safe and popular as a means of sport and amusement.

The present invention has for its object to greatly enhance the amusement value ofapparatus of this, character by constructing a continuous track with a plurality of courses arranged in such manner that a plurality of cars 'or trains, it started simultaneously from the loading station will travel side by side, giving the effect of a race throughout practically the entire course. A further object is to so arrange the courses that, at the finish, each car or train has been transferred to the course traversed by that car. or train with which it has just completed itsrace.

. A further object is to so arrange the -c0urses that when the cars. or trains are properly constructed and balanced they will travel from the start to the finish in approximately the same time, so that the result of the race between them is influenced by the momentum and load of each car and the rssistance presented by the load.

, A further object is to-provide an amusement apparatuswith-a loading pavilion so arranged that the passengers may load and unload, and pass back and forth between the tracks of the respective courses, and pass in and out of the-pavilion-without crossing any track.

' The invention will be'hereinafter fully set forth and claims. v

In the accompanying drawing Figi 1re' I particularly pointed 'out in the isa diagrammatical view in plan-illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation illustrating the contours. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating details of the loading and unloading station. an enlarged side view of the same. 7

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a pavilion provided with a .loading station 11, and an unloading station 12, each provided Fig. 4 is with an independent platform, 13, whereby the incoming and outgoing passengers may move freely without interference. In this connection it will be noted that said platforms are located between the courses-of the tracks hereinafter described. By' this arrangement, grade crossings are obviated, and there is no necessity for passengers or attendants to cross the tracks.

In the drawing I have illustrated a single continuous track formed 'in' two courses 15, 16, running parallel throu hout the greater portion of theirlengths. he course I 15 leading from the starting station is rovided with a curve 17 to the right,"lea mg to the high point-18, and thecourse 16 is provided with a similar curve 19 turning in theopposite direction and crossing over to' said high point 18. From this point the two courses run parallel and in a straight line,-

- 22 beneath-curve 20, and around said curve until the point 23 is reached. At this latter point the courses slightly diverge to the respective finishing points 24, passing on opposite sides of the platforms 13.

In practice cars of any suitable type may be used, and it is desirable that they be so balanced as to run at approximately the same speed, the track being arranged so that each course is of substantially the same length. The object is to have the cars and track so adjusted that two cars, traveling si multaneously over the two courses and without a load, will move at substantially the samespeed and finish at approximately the same time. Thus the speed of each. car, from the time it is allowed to moveforward by gravity, will depend upon its momentum and load, and the resistance presented by the load and otherwise encountered in the forward travel of the car, and in consequence thereof the velocity and speed of the cars are increasedor decreased accordingly. As con structed the empty cars should pass over the downward grades of the track and to the station approximately in the same time, but owing to the variations in the loads, and in the resistances'presented and encountered by them, one or the other is almost sure to'excel in speed. In consequence of the variations in the lengths of corresponding portions of the tracks, dependent upon whether they are on the inside or outside of the various curves, and the variations in speed of the cars when operated by gravity, the cars, fromtime to time, and as often as they pass around the various curves, may shift their relativepositions so that during the entire course one car is likely to vary in its position and be ahead of or behind the other car as many .as four or more times, depending, of course, on the length of the track and the number of curves; or, it is possible under some conditions, that one of the cars, owing 'to its momentur'n, and the resistances presented and encountered by 'it, may precede the other car throughout the entire course.

In the apparatus illustrated, when the cars (not shown) have been loaded at the station 11, they are conveyed by suitable mechanical means (preferably the usual chains) to the starting point 18 and are started simultaneously on their downward travel. From this point they will follow a parallel course along the straight stretches sprocket posed to the and around the curves 20, 21, and 22, until the point 23 is reached, from which point they will separate and move to their respective finishing points 24:, where they are stopped side by side, on opposite sides of the platform 13. By tracing the line of travel of each car it will be observed that the fin- .ishing point 21 of the course 15 joins the courselti at the loading station, and the [inishing point of the course 16 joins the course 15 at the loading station. As a result of this arrangement the car that started on course 15 finishes at the loading station of course 16, and vice versa. Thus there is an incentive for those who enter into the spirit of a racing contest and who have just traveled on a car over one course, to travel over the same course on the other car, or else they may travel over the other course on the car in which they have just completed a trip.

. In connection with the foregoing l desire it to be understood that while I have described my improved amusement a ipuratus as' particularly adapted for a simultaneous operation of a plurality of cars and partaking of the nature of a race course, I do not desire to limit myself in this respect, as it is obvious that a single car, or a train of cars, may be run over one course, without any car being at the same time operated over the other course, and that on completing a trip over either course, a passenger may, without changing cars, enjoy a trip over the other course.

I claim as my invention 1. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous track formed in aplurality of parallel courses, said courses being provided with a common loading station.

2. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous track arranged to provide a plurality of parallel courses, said courses having a common loading station located between them. 110

An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous track arranged to provide a plurality of parallel courses, the finishing stretch of each course terminating atgthe starting point of and connecting with the other course.

4. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a track formed in parallel courses and so arranged that the cars traveling .over the respective courses 130 will be transposed from one course to the other at the end of their travel.

5. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a bontinuous track arranged .to provide a plurality of parallel c0urses, -and means for causing the cars traveling over each course to be transhdj'acent course at the end of its travel.

6. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous track arranged to provide a plurality of parallel courses so arranged that the relativelateral positions of said courses are altered between the starting-and finishing points. a 7; An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous tiou located between the course to be transposed to the adjacent course at the end of its travel.

9. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a track formed in parallel courses, each course being provided with a loading station common to both and'located between the courses, whereby passengers may pass back and forth between the courses -without crossing the track.

10. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous track formed in parallel courses, said courses being provided with a common loading stacourses, whereby passengers may pass between the courses without crossing the track.

11 An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a track formed in parallel courses,said courses being provided with a common unloading station located between the courses, whereby passengers may pass between the courses without crossing the track.

12. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous track formed in parallel courses, said courses being provided with common loading and unloading Stations located between the courses, whereby passengers may pass back and forth between the ing the track.

13. An amusement apparatus of the character described provided with a continuous courses without crosstrack arranged in parallel courses, saidcourses being provided with a common unloading station, whereby passengers may pass back and forth between the courses Without crossing the track.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this \pecifieation in the presence of two subscriblng witnesses. JOHN A. MILLER.

.VVitnesses FREDERICK 'INcnRsoLL, CHAS. PAIGE. 

